Lee Westwood has focused on gym work and practice in the weeks leading up to the Ryder Cup (Redington/Getty Images)

I'm perfectly healthy and fit for duty, says Westwood

Lee Westwood suffered a bout of tonsilitis in Scotland a few weeks ago, but says he's recovering well. Despite the unexpected layoff, the veteran Englishman believes his game will be plenty sharp at Valhalla.

PULHEIM, Germany (PA) -- Lee Westwood has told Sky Sports News that he will be fit for the Ryder Cup match at Valhalla.

Recent reports had suggested the Englishman faced a race against time to prove his fitness having been laid low with a bout of tonsilitis. However, the 35-year-old has now set the record straight and insists there is no danger of him missing the showdown in Kentucky.

He went on to explain that, having picked up the ailment at the recent Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles, he was forced to pull out of the subsequent Omega European Masters. But he insists the reason for his absence from the Mercedes-Benz Championship is purely logistical and not down to illness.

"I did pull out of last week's event in Switzerland, but made it known that if it was possible I'd like to get an invite into this week's in Germany," he continued.

"But there weren't any invites left and when the promoter eventually came up with one, there were a couple of conditions which I couldn't go along with so I had to turn that invite down," he explained. "I also decided that another week's rest, a bit of gym work and a lot of practice at home here would have me in better shape for the Ryder Cup."

And despite the enforced layoff, Westwood has no fears that his game will have suffered in the run-up to Valhalla.

"It's only two weeks between finishing (the Johnnie Walker Championship) and the Ryder Cup," he said. "I picked it up there on the Saturday and it affected me for the last day but my sharpness should be pretty good.

"I had a couple of weeks off before the U.S. Open and I didn't do too bad there," he added. "I was pretty sharp, so I've no worries about being sharp for next week."